“Jeong (deep emotional bond), community, and responsibility - these are the heart of Korean sentiment, and I wanted to share that special essence with the world,” said actress Arden Cho, who plays Rumi, the leader of the fictional K-pop girl group HUNTR/X in the Netflix animated film 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' (directed by Maggie Kang).
As a Korean-American straddling two cultures, Arden felt a strong connection to her character, a demon hunter born with evil blood but striving to contain it with a protective spiritual barrier called honmun, powered by the strength of a good fandom. “This project was a journey of self-discovery,” she emphasized multiple times. “I had to be a part of it.”
Although born and raised in the U.S. as the daughter of immigrants, Arden shared in an interview in Gangnam, Seoul, that she often spends time in Korea whenever her schedule allows. Initially, she auditioned for the role of Celine, HUNTR/X’s mentor, but was later encouraged to try out for Rumi, which the team felt suited her better. At the time, she was on vacation in Korea but flew back to the U.S. immediately and landed the part.
She elaborated, “I was overjoyed beyond words. Even after 20 years of acting, I wondered, ‘Is it okay for me to want this role so badly?’ Director Maggie Kang, I, and all the HUNTR/X members share Korean heritage. K-Pop Demon Hunters is about more than K-pop: it showcases Korean warmth, unity, and how that helps overcome crises. I really wanted to help spread that message of 'us'.”
The film is infused with Korean cultural elements, from bonding through group baths to taking a sick member to a traditional Korean medicine clinic. Rumi, the team’s caring leader, tends to younger members Mira and Zoey, often saying, “Because I’m the unnie (older sister).” Even the scene where rival groups HUNTR/X and Saja Boys bow deeply in mutual respect reflects Korean values. “Acknowledging others and taking responsibility—that’s the Korean way,” she said. “And it’s all rooted in jeong. The Korean honorifics also express subtle layers of respect and consideration that are hard to convey in English. This film captured all of that beautifully. There are many anime works reflecting Chinese or Japanese culture, but none have expressed Korean sentiment as well as this one.”
In many ways, Arden’s casting as Rumi felt like destiny. She was born in a rural town in Texas, where she often faced discrimination. She trained in Taekwondo at her father’s dojang and holds a black belt, which influenced the martial arts choreography in the film. Though raised in the U.S., Arden learned Korean from her parents and practiced it while visiting Korea, often feeling comforted in her grandmother’s embrace. Arden shared, “Even though I’m fluent in English and have American citizenship, discrimination followed me. But in Korea, even if I wasn’t fluent in Korean, strangers at the market were kind to me. That’s 'Jeong.' That’s the Korean spirit. My grandmother always said, ‘Arden will be like Audrey Hepburn one day.’ She taught me what 'Woori (us)' means. She’s no longer with us, but being in Korea still feels like home.”
Her favorite part of Korean culture? The food - no hesitation. Just like Rumi in the film, Arden loves kimbap and ramen, but her top picks are samgyeopsal, kimchi jjigae, and tteokbokki. “I always gain weight when I come to Korea,” she joked. She also raved about Korea’s karaoke culture, calling it “amazing.” After the 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' OST debuted at No. 2 on Billboard 200 and placed seven songs on the Hot 100, she rushed to a karaoke room with friends. “One friend said, ‘The entire OST is already in the karaoke system!’ Can you believe that? It had only been out for three weeks! We all shouted, ‘This is Korea!’ You could never expect this kind of speed in the U.S.,” she laughed.
Though a U.S. citizen, Arden has actively worked to embrace her Korean identity. In 2004, while still a college student, she was crowned Miss Korea Chicago and came to Korea, chasing her dream of becoming an actress. From roles in 'CSI' and 'Hawaii Five-0' to leads in 'Teen Wolf' and Netflix’s 'Partner Track,' she often emphasized in international interviews that she was proud of her Korean heritage and even wore hanbok on red carpets. She explained, “Korea embraced me unconditionally. That’s the same message K-pop delivers: unity and moving forward together. This story can’t end here. I want to see how Rumi, Mira, and Zoey came together - their backstories, and what lies ahead. HUNTR/X’s journey is just beginning.”
Arden is also a singer-songwriter who released the track "Electrify" in Korea in 2019 and is close with Korean hip-hop legends Tiger JK and Yoon Mi Rae. Her role as the leader of a K-pop girl group wasn’t a coincidence. So, who’s her favorite real-life K-pop act? Without hesitation, she answered: BTS. She shared, “I love many groups, but BTS is the best. I even flew to Las Vegas during filming to catch their concert. If you want to understand what K-pop truly is, you have to see them live.”
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